Cap for containers



Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,686

H. F. RIPKEN CAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 2, 1923 Fhd HUGO F. RIPKEN, F MINNEAPOLIS, hilNhlmQTA, ASSIGNOR @l ONE-HALF TQ GEAR/Elm A. MOGULLOCH, 01E MINNEAPOLIS, MENNMUTA.

CAP FOR CQNTAHFERS.

Application filed April 2, i923. derial 15o. 6%,854.

To allwlzom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, H1700 F. Barnes, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cape for Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cap closures, and has for one of its objects to provide'improved means for closing automobile radiator and gas tank sup 1y inlets, and the like, to take the place of t e ordinary screw cap,

the invention embodying certain novel tea tures of construction enabling the cap to be instantly thrown open or closed by a single swift movement of the hand, to avoid being painfully burned in the case of a hot radiator, or unnecessarily soil the hands in the case of a gasoline tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class described, an improved cap closure involving a superstructure which may be screwed onto the threaded inlet pipe of standard tanks and radiators, so that no special preparation for the attachment of the invention is required.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a closure of the class described involving certain .novelly arranged spring devices whereby the-closure is constantly efiectively held pressed squarely over the inlet opening-to efiect a leak proof contact, while at the same time the closure is capable of yielding automatically to excessive internal pressure to avoid accidents.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out as this specification progresses, the invention consisting in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1, is a side view of a threaded inlet pipe, showing the invention applied thereto. 7 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 oi Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a top view of Figure 1.

Figure 4, is a fragmentary side view showing the cap in open position.

Figure 5, is a fragmentary view showing Figure 6, is a sectional view on line M of Figure 1; and

I the cap incompletely closed.

Figure 7, is a side view of a modified form of body.

in the drawings, 1 designates a portion of the body of a tank or radiator, and 2 the threaded inlet pipeor flange.

The invention comprises a body 4:, and a can or valve 5. The body is in the form of a ring, having an internal annular shoulder 8 intermediate its ends, and being threaded below the shoulder as at 7, whereby it is adapted to have threaded engagement with the inlet flange 2, as shown in Figure 2. The top circular edge 8 of the body is here shown flat and consttitutes a seat, the outer edge of the body being formed with a bev eled 0r conic face 9. Externally the base of the body is preferably hexagonal in shape, to adapt it to be turned by an ordinary wrench so that it may be screwed to the threaded inlet flange to bring the shoulder 6 into firm engagement with the top thereof. The sides 10 and 10 oi the hexagonal body portion are each formed with a recess, adapted to receive respectively the hinge member 12 and the heap member 13, both of these members being suitably secured to the body, as by screws 14..

Extending between said hinge and hasp is a companion hinge member 15, which fits between the pintle supports 1% of the hinge member 12, and is pivotall supported on a pintle- 17 suitably secure in said pintle supports. The hinge members 12 and and the hasp member 13 are, in the preferred form shown, made of spring metal to enable the hinge and ha s'p members 12 and.

F3 to yield slightly laterally to a radially and outwardly directed pressure with re spect to the center of the body, as is indicated by fine dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The member 15 is preferably formed of a strap of uniform width, and is bent upon itself at its free end to form a rounded nose or looking member 18, adapted to frictionally and slidably engage the top of the member 13, and an outwardl directed finger piece 19overhanging sai locking member. The member 13 is bent to term an inwardly facing concavity 20 and a, rounded lip 21 merging into said concavity to facilitate a sliding or she movement of the looking member into sai cavity. The members 12, 15, and 13 may be termed strap like spring devices, having a hinge jointat one till till

ion

lOd

' the ca side of the ring'and a separate joint at the other side of the ring. The member 15' may be termed a resilient cap support in that it supports a cap 22, having a seat 23 adapted ber 15 as by means of a rivet 26. The cap. has a rounded top surface, and the normal bow of the member 15 is such as not to symmetrically conform to the curvature of the cap, as it is in its normal unstressed state, spaced further from the cap at 27 than at 28, as shown in Figure 4, wherein the 1 cap is unseated and may be swung about its hinge support to fully .clear the inlet opening. In Figure 5, the cap is shown as having been forced downwardly from the position shown in Figure at to bring the nose 18 into engagement with the lip 21, thereby slightly flexing the'members 12 and 13 outwardly, as shown by dotted lines. The cap and member 15 are so relatively positioned as to seat the cap on the body as shown, when the nose is positioned as shown in Figure 5. Obviously, in this position, the member 15 (which may be termed a bow, spring) is in compression, and a; slight downward movement thereof will cause it to snap instantly into the concavity 2Q, owing to theinclination of the latter as it merges into the round of the lip 21. As,,

however, the bow spring is practically in its normal unstressed state in Figure 5, a. further downward movement thereof will cause the recited incline of the concavity 20 to apply a force thereto which is directed downwardly and inwardly, as indicated by the arrow (Figure 1), thereby assisting in flexing the bow spring and pressing the cap against the seat 8. The bow spring is flexed principally by the hand of the operator as he grasps the finger piece 19 and presses the same in an inwardly and downwardly direction, thus forcing it under tension into the concavity 20. Obviously, the bow spring may be flexed to enter the concavit even though the members 12 and 13 be rigid, as shown in the modified form of body represented by the Figure 7, wherein the body is shown as a single casting; In Figure 2, the bow spring isshown'in a flexed state, the nose 28 having been forced inward, as is clearly indicated by comparing the space corresponding to the space 27 in Figure 4. Obviously, the downward pressure of the bow spring is applied at the center of the cap, when the former is in locked position.

In operation, the tank orifice may be in- ,ring with respect to sea stantly opened by administering a suddenly applied thrust of sufliient force against the under side of the hand piece 19 by the hand to cause the cap to swing upon its hinge connection, the movement of the cap being accelerated by the sudden release of the tension of the bow'spring, and by the rounded lip 21, in its inward movement to normal position. The rounded top of the cap, and the annular lip at its base, serve to cast water and cinders.

,When the device is used for gasoline tanks, I provide a vent 29.

The closure may also be closed by a use of my improved cap, a radiator orifice may be opened or closed by hand, at will. I I

irrespective of its heated condition.

-I claim:

7 1 In a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a ping adaptedto have threaded engagement with the threaded inlet pipe of,a container to make a leak proof joint therewith, a seat forming the top edge of said'ring, a closure adapted to engage with said seat to close the top of the ring, and spring devices arranged in coacting re lation to extend across the top of said closure and having connection with said closure and ring foi'holding the former under tension of said spring devices against said seat, said spring devices including a pivotable joint at one side of the ring and a separable.

joint constructed to yield, to separate, re sponsive to an administered separating pull of predetermined degree, said separable joint osite side of said pivotable' joint. 2. In a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a ring adapted to have threaded engagement with the threaded flange surrounding the inlet of a container, to make a leak proof joint therewith, said ring being formed with an annular seat at its top, a closure cap having a seat adapted being located on the op to engage with the aforesaid seat to close the top of said ring, a hinge member carried by the ring and having a pintle spaced latera ly adjacent said seat and located approximately on the level thereof, a hasp member opposite said hinge member carried by the ring, said hasp member having an inwardly facing concavity, and a companion hinge member pivoted on said pintle to swing in a vertical radial plane with respect to said ring, and secured to said closure cap and extending to said hasp member, said companion hinge member being formed of spring metal and adapted to readily releasably engage said concavity when in a flexed state to press said closure cap against said seat.

3. In a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a ring adapted to be secured to the flange surrounding an opening bow spring to permit the latter to be swung in a verticall disposed radial plane with respect to sai ring, a second vertically disposed resilient member secured to said ring and extending 'to the opposite end of said bow spring and being adapted to interlock ingly releasably engage therewith when said bow spring is flexed downwardly to a predetermined degree.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with the threaded inlet'pipe of a container; of a superstructure threadedly engaging said pipe to form an extension thereof, said structure including a closure cap removably seated thereon to close the top thereof, and strap like devices made of spring metal extending from one side of said structure across the center of said cap to the other side of said structure and being secured at opposite sides under tension to the latter to hold said cap seated, a connection between 7 said cap and strap like devices, a pivotable joint in said devices atone side of said cap, and a readily releasable frictional connection in said devices at the opposite side of said cap. I

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the threaded inlet pipe of a container; of a ring adapted to have threaded engagement with said pipe to form an extension, a blade spring secured to said cap and extending an appreciable distance beyond opposite edges thereof, and means carried by said ring at opposite sides thereof and operatively connected to said blade spring for holding said cap against the ring under tension of said blade spring, said means including a pivotable connection to render the cap swingable, in a vertical plane,

and a concavity releasably engageable by said blade spring to hold closed said extension, said concavity being relatively positioned and shaped with respectto said blade spring to be engaged by the latter, in a manner to render the same releasable responsive to a suddenly applied, upwardly directed force thereagainst.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a ring having internal screw threads whereby it may be threaded to a vertically disposed pipe and having an annular seatat its upper edge, a cap adapted to seat on the aforesaid seat to close said pipe, a blade spring extending radially across the cap beyond opposite sides thereof, a .hinge vconnection between one end of said blade spring and said cap to permit said'blade spring to swing in a vertical plane with respect to the cap, a concavity carried by the ring adjacent the opposite end of said blade spring and shaped and positioned to releasably interlock with said blade spring when the latter is flexed to press against the top of said cap, a connection between said blade spring and cap, and a surrounding outwardly flaring, downwardly directed flange carried by said'cap, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HUGO F. RIPKEN. 

